Lucie Conrad is producer of the film version of the 30th anniversary production of Matthew Bourne’s much loved Nutcracker! which will be broadcast in cinemas for the first time.
Released by Trafalgar Releasing, the global leader in event cinema distribution and produced by Illuminations, Nutcracker! is screening in more than 225 cinemas across the UK and internationally in the lead up to the festive season on Tuesday 15 November and Sunday 20 November 2022.
Featuring Cordelia Braithwaite as ‘Clara’, Harrison Dowzell as ‘Nutcracker’, Ashley Shaw as ‘Sugar’ and Dominic North as ‘Fritz’; the production was filmed live at Sadler’s Wells, London, in January 2022, and is directed for the screen by Ross MacGibbon.
For the latest information on participating cinemas please visit nutcrackercinema.com
Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! Is coming to cinemas for the first time, what can you tell us about the show?
Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! is a hugely entertaining, heart-warming piece of dance theatre. As with many of his works, such as Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, Bourne has taken the well-known ballet classic and given it his personal twist.
The first act is set in a dark, Dickensian orphanage, run by the terrifying Dr. Dross and his wife. Act 2 in contrast takes our heroine, the orphaned Clara, to the bright and colourful Sweetieland – filled with characters representing different types of sweets such as Marshmallows, Gobstoppers and a Knickerbocker Glory! It’s huge fun and a wonderful excursion for the whole family.
As producer what was it about the stage show that made you want to make it available to a wider audience?
Matthew’s Bourne’s work lends itself wonderfully to being shown on the big screen. It is packed with humour and dramatic details, some of which could be lost on the audience at the back of a theatre auditorium. Our screen director works closely with Matthew to ensure every dramatic moment is caught and every joke is picked up by the cameras. The performers are not only wonderful dancers, but also brilliant actors and it is lovely to be able to convey this close up.
Matthew is incredibly passionate about taking his work to the widest possible audience. His stage shows tour extensively all over the country and internationally but obviously can’t go everywhere. I’m delighted that through our screen versions, New Adventures have dramatically increased their reach as our films are screened in village halls as well as the multiplex cinema chains. I often hear people say that they don’t consider themselves a theatre or ballet lover but that they thoroughly enjoyed watching Matthew Bourne’s work. I hope the screenings help to introduce a whole other audience to Matthew’s brilliantly accessible work.
The show is celebrating its 30th anniversary, why do you think it’s remained so popular?
Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! combines Tchaikovsky’s magical score – some of the best ballet music there is – with dazzling choreography and exuberant set and costumes to tell a simple story about a girl growing up and experiencing love for the first time. It speaks universally to audience members of all generations and is highly entertaining as well as moving. I can’t see it ever losing its popular appeal.
What were the challenges you faced in bringing it to the big screen?
As the producer my biggest challenge is always the actual financing of such a performance capture. Matthew Bourne’s work has a very high production value and involves many artists, musicians and creatives as well as crew, so there are a lot of fees to be covered. Equally, we strongly feel that the quality of stage show must be matched by the highest quality of recording, so we work with the best colleagues in the field, using a sophisticated multicamera set-up to record in Ultra High Definition, also called 4K. The result looks absolutely stunning but it is costly to produce. This recording of Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! is the sixth such capture of New Adventures’ work over recent years, so by now we all know what we’re doing. Nevertheless, there are always challenges when filming live works – not in the least because of Covid…
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Nutcracker! at their local cinema?
You’re in for a real treat! Whether you’re a Matthew Bourne devotee or new to his work, you are guaranteed a highly entertaining and diverting evening. Screen versions can never substitute seeing the work live – but it is a different, hugely enjoyable experience as it gets you much closer than you can ever be in the theatre and if you’ve seen the show, you’ll be amazed what you may have missed!
